ILTI 15-Year Evaluation: Strengths and Weaknesses
After fifteen years of operation I.L.T.I. conducted an extended evaluation of its viability, performance and effectiveness. The evaluation allowed us to see both our strengths and our weaknesses. It also held several surprises; the biggest was that many organizations had stopped using or replaced I.L.T.I. with other training programs.
The primary reason was that when I.L.T.I. was first released in 1991, very few international organizations which were dedicated to training local pastors existed. Of those that did exist, most worked only within their home denomination or sponsoring organization. If a small denomination, or independent group, wanted to train indigenous pastors, I.L.T.I. was often their only option. This was the primary factor accounting for the unprecedented worldwide growth and acceptance the program experienced in its early years. Over the next fifteen years however, many other training programs appeared. Soon the number of organizations training pastors on an international level rose from a scant few to more than one thousand. Since I.L.T.I. was no longer the sole option available, many organizations that had used I.L.T.I., dropped it for programs that better suited their needs.
Many whom we interviewed during the evaluation process were quite lengthy in their critiques. However, the answers they gave primarily fell into several categories that we have abridged as follows:
I.L.T.I. Strengths
All who were interviewed listed the depth and scope of the I.L.T.I. material as its primary strength. The I.L.T.I. program relies heavily on hermeneutics as a method and means of teaching. I.L.T.I. students not only study biblical teachings, they learn how to examine, analyze, and understand the scriptures for themselves. We teach them how to accurately find answers for any question or situation that might arise in their ministry.
I.L.T.I. Weaknesses
Ironically, the primary reasons listed as I.L.T.I.'s weaknesses, are also closely related to those listed as its strength.
Too long: One reason sited by those who replaced I.L.T.I. with other programs is that the I.L.T.I. course is too long. I.L.T.I. is one of the longest programs of its kind. Most similar programs are two years or less. Qualified Christian leaders are needed worldwide. The need is so great and the supply so small, that many organizations do not want to wait three to five years to train their pastors. These organizations had far outgrown their supply of qualified teachers and pastors. They felt pressure to raise up pastors and teachers as quickly as possible. Their immediate need for a way of training their pastors and teachers was the reason these groups had originally turned to I.L.T.I., and now it was the primary reason they were dropping it for programs that take far less time.
Too in-depth: One surprise was that some listed the depth of the I.L.T.I. material as a weakness. Several schools had difficulties arise because the I.L.T.I. material was too in-depth for their teachers. Students would ask questions the teachers were unable to answer. This led to moments of embarrassment, and loss of face for the teacher. To remedy this, schools had dropped several of I.L.T.I.'s key courses from their curriculum. To our astonishment this also included our course on Hermeneutics, the key course around which all others in our curriculum are centered.
After studying the results of the evaluation and carefully reviewing our existing course material, the I.L.T.I. Board of Directors unanimously agreed on a solution. First they agreed that I.L.T.I. cannot shorten the length of the course or compromise the integrity of the program by cutting content. God has called us to provide complete training, to produce well equipped, well trained, men of God. If schools feel that I.L.T.I. is too long, we will encourage them to find another course.
The I.L.T.I. Board agreed that I.L.T.I. was too in-depth for use by most local church organizations. However they were determined that instead of cutting content they would find a means to teach students without compromise, without 'dumbing down' the studies. They searched for ways to strengthen and reformat the I.L.T.I. Program so that others could better understand it.
Out of that search, came several realizations about the quality of the student candidates, the teachers, and the state of Christianity today. Many students came from smaller denominations or associations that did not have defined statements of faith, nor systematic teaching for their congregants. So too, many indigenous organizations and denominations using I.L.T.I. had been founded through the evangelism of local preachers who themselves had inadequate Christian education. Therefore many of their students and teachers had great voids in their understanding of even elemental Christian doctrine.
This created a dilemma. To start teaching at their level we would need to begin each lesson at the most basic elemental level. Then we would have to slowly build line upon line, precept upon precept, until they had a thorough and exhaustive understanding of each topic. How could we accomplish this? Especially since they already perceive I.L.T.I. as too long and too in-depth?
For the answer see 'A Unique Approach to Seminary Training.'
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